Lakers News: Derrick Caracter Assigned to D-League

The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned second-year big man Derrick Caracter to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Developmental League. Caracter has not played one game for the Lakers this season since he has been dealing with an injured knee.

Caracter underwent surgery on Dec. 14 to remove part of a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. He injured the left knee two weeks before training camp started, which left the Lakers’ front-court without much support.

The Lakers have not been playing to the level they are accustomed to in 2011-12 and as a result the starters are forced to play more minutes in hopes of getting the offense going. Although Caracter does not bring much to the table for the Lakers, having a body on the floor will give Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum more time on the bench.

Derrick Caracter has spent time in the D-League, and this will be his third stint in the minor league. He twice played for the Bakersfield Jam and averaged 8.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.